'Enormous angst' growing over fishing lockout

The Northern Territory Amateur Fisherman's Association fears stalled negotiations between Government and traditional owners over access to the Finniss River will damage business and create 'enormous angst'.

AFANT president Craig Ingram is calling on the Government to work to find a solution within the week, after a sudden lockout from the Finniss River was announced on Friday.

Most of the Finniss River, south-west of Darwin, is closed to fishing - 140km out of the river's 152km - without exceptions for permits.

"What we're most concerned about is that genuine anglers are being punished for the illegal activity of some people on traditional land," Mr Ingram told 105.7 Breakfast.

One traditional owner has told ABC issues of shooting cattle, starting fires and riding quad bikes on traditional land around the River contributed to the standoff.

"They (the Government and traditional owners) have to come back to the negotiation table to address this situation as soon as possible, because at the moment it's causing an enormous amount of angst and its damaging businesses in the area."

The Northern Land Council will make decisions over individual access on behalf of the Mak Mak Marranunggu Traditional Owners until a solution is found.

"I think it's a bit messy at the moment. What we'd like to think is with good will from all sides, we can find a solution very soon," Mr Ingram said.

"We want to make sure we can get access to these areas in the short term, but also make sure we don't have any more areas closed like this permanently - that would be terrible.

"AFANT has always been well aware of the seriousness of this issue and the potential for a fallout like this that will impact on access."

He said fishos will have to hold their breath for a little while.

Fisheries Minister Willem Westra Van Holthe defended the Government's handling of the issue on ABC Local Radio this morning.

"I don't accept Government has messed this up - we have been dealing with this issue for years," he told Julia Christensen on 105.7 Breakfast.

"It is a long and arduous process. There are very complex issues particularly around the upper reaches of the Finniss," he said.